Midterm Life Hacks: Seven tips to ace your exams

With midterms coming up, I’ve noticed everyone is more on edge and stressed than usual. Whether these are your first or last midterms at UConn, they never get easier, so I compiled a list of midterm life hacks for you all! Feel free to explore them if you think they may help. 

1. Promise yourself a reward  

This can apply to studying for a certain amount of time or getting the desired grade. For example, if I decided I wanted to study for a total of 15 hours in one week for an exam, I could motivate myself by promising myself a sweet treat or something that has been on my wish list. Or, if I’d buy myself one of those things if and only if I got a 90 on my exam. The reward could be however big you want it to be. If you are a student with a budget, perhaps you can promise yourself an insomnia cookie, or if you have a meal plan, then every sweet treat your dining hall has to offer that day. You deserve it.  

2. Teach someone else the topic you are studying for 

As insane as it sounds, I took an education class in high school where when we had to learn a topic, we would divide it into different sections and become “teachers for the day”. I had to develop lesson plans, create note catchers and projects, then teach them to my classmates. This also helped me retain the information that I needed for my topic. When I say teach someone else, I don’t mean you have to do all this. Simply sitting with someone and explaining the topic or parts of it is the same method.  

3. Use Mnemonics 

I used mnemonics before I knew what they were; it is something our brain may do on its own. In middle school, I was introduced to the word onomatopoeia. To remember the spelling of it, I separated it into different words: “o no ma top” and then a bunch of vowels starting with “o,” associating it with “oh no my top.” As weird as it sounds, it is what it looked like to me at the time and that is how I remembered to spell it.  

I would especially recommend this method if you are trying to learn definitions. A couple of methods for mnemonics include chunking (essentially what I did with onomatopoeia), as well as acronyms and acrostics, which many of us may have learned with PEMDAS (Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally). These are just some examples of mnemonic tactics, but you can look up more and find the right one for you!  

4. Change your study environment often 

Sometimes, we just get so used to a place that studying becomes ineffective (or maybe that’s just me). You can use this time to explore many study environments at UConn and maybe even find a favorite study place. If you prefer a quieter place, studying in the upstairs section of the UConn Bookstore or somewhere more peaceful in the library may be for you. If you like some sort of noise, I can’t help you because I am a “study in quiet” person, but there are plenty of places around UConn for that! A change of scenery may make you feel less bored and give you a mental refresher.  

5. Turn your study topics into a story 

When you create the facts or concepts you are learning into a narrative, your brain may be more engaged and help you remember the topics. Think about it, would you rather study or watch a movie or show? Studying by turning concepts into a plot is essentially the same thing as a movie or show in your head.  

6. The Pomodoro Technique 

With this technique, you usually plan for 25 minutes of active studying followed by a five-minute break. However, if you feel that you are someone who can study for longer without your brain getting tired, extend the study time from 30 to 45 minutes. If you need longer breaks, extend the break time to 10 or 15 minutes. I personally need longer breaks, so for me, a 30-minute-on then 10-minute-off technique is best; you can adjust this to any way that works for you and then repeat it for as long as you want to study.  

7. Aromatherapy 

Scents such as peppermint and rosemary are known to boost concentration and memory. So, if you are someone who likes or at least doesn’t mind these scents, then it may be worth trying out. Maybe even studying with an essential oil or room spray that you like can help you feel calmer and study better. 

I decided to provide seven hacks/tips for you since the number seven is associated with luck. Hopefully, with that, I am manifesting a successful midterm week for you all! Remember to take breaks (don’t make your whole life about studying because you will lose your mind) and take care of yourself. This means getting three meals daily and a normal amount of sleep, even taking naps if needed. Good luck everyone!